Easter egg

noun

plural Easter eggs
1
: an egg that is dyed and sometimes decorated and that is associated with the celebration of Easter
2
sometimes Easter Egg or easter egg plural Easter Eggs or easter eggs : a hidden feature in a commercially released product (such as software or a DVD)
3
sometimes Easter Egg or easter egg : a usually subtle callback (see callback sense 3) included to please fans
They certainly didn't disappoint …, littering the movie with a bunch of fun Easter eggs for fans of the video games and other cool inside jokes.—Craig Flaster

Examples of Easter egg in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There are so many Easter eggs about people who share facts that aren’t facts, but do so confidently. — Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2026 From the sights and sounds to the Easter eggs, the first episode packs in all kinds of Kansas City goodness. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 6 Aug. 2026 Are there any Easter eggs from films in the franchise that audiences should keep an eye out for? — Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 4 Aug. 2026 The most chatter from fans of Roku City — yes, a screen saver has many, many devotees — springs from the Easter eggs, a revolving selection of more than 40 pop-culture moments and nostalgic references that populate the screen. — Pat Saperstein, Variety, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for Easter egg

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1572, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Easter egg was circa 1572

Rhymes for Easter egg

See All Rhymes for Easter egg

Browse Nearby Words

Easter duty
Easter egg
Easter Even
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Easter egg.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Easter%20egg. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on Easter egg

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Easter egg

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